Malcolm Rivera
India is a linguistically diverse country with a multitude of languages and dialects. The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, does not specify the official language of different states. Instead, it initially recognised 14 languages in its Eighth Schedule, which was later expanded to include 22 languages. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution is significant as it lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. This article will explore the evolution of the Eighth Schedule, the languages it encompasses, and the role of the government in promoting and regulating language usage in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Languages Recognized | 22 |
| Year of Constitution Adoption | 1950 |
| Official Language | Hindi |
| Additional Official Language | English |
| Duration of English as Additional Official Language | Not exceeding 15 years |
| Number of Regional Languages | 14 |
| Languages Available on the Official Website of the Indian Prime Minister's Office | 12 |
| Languages Available in the Press Information Bureau | 15 |
| Languages Available for the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff Exam | 14 |
| Language Added in 1967 | Sindhi |
| Languages Added in 1992 | Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali |
| Languages Added in 2003 | Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali |
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What You'll Learn
- Hindi was declared the official language of India in 1950
- English was to be phased out 15 years after the constitution came into effect
- There is no national language of India
- The Indian constitution grants the power to the central government to issue directives to states regarding the use of minority languages
- The Official Languages Act, 1963, made provision for the continued use of English for official purposes
Hindi was declared the official language of India in 1950
The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, declared Hindi written in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. This was outlined in Article 343 of the Constitution, which also stated that English would serve as an additional official language for a period not exceeding 15 years.
The decision to adopt Hindi as the official language was not without controversy. Prior to independence, the official languages of British India were English, Standard Urdu, and later, Modern Standard Hindi, with English being used for official purposes at the central level. Following independence, the Constituent Assembly was divided on the language issue. Some favored declaring Hindi written in Devanagari the national language immediately, while others wanted to continue the usage of English. There were also divisions within the camp favoring Hindi, with disagreements over the script of the language and whether Hindustani with both Devanagari and Urdu scripts should be retained.
The adoption of Hindi as the official language was intended to unify the country and promote a common language. Hindi is one of the main languages of India and is spoken by around 40% of the population, or approximately 425 million people, as a first language. It is also the second language of about 120 million more. However, the decision to adopt Hindi as the sole official language was met with resistance in many parts of the country, particularly in non-Hindi-speaking areas such as the Dravidian-speaking states and Tamil Nadu, which had a history of opposing the imposition of Hindi dating back to 1937.
To address these concerns, the Official Languages Act of 1963 was enacted, which provided for the continued use of English for official purposes alongside Hindi even after the 15-year period for the phase-out of English ended in 1965. This decision was made to ensure that non-Hindi speaking areas of India would still be able to conduct official business and access government services in a language they understood.
In addition to Hindi and English, India recognizes 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, including Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, and Tamil. These languages are entitled to representation on the Official Languages Commission and are used to enrich the official languages of the Union. The recognition of these languages highlights the linguistic diversity of India and the importance of promoting and preserving them.
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English was to be phased out 15 years after the constitution came into effect
The Indian Constitution, which came into effect in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the country's official language. According to Article 343, English would continue to serve as an additional official language for a maximum of 15 years, after which it would be phased out. This provision was intended to ensure a smooth transition to using Hindi as the sole official language.
However, as the end of the 15-year period approached, concerns arose in non-Hindi-speaking regions of India, particularly in the Dravidian-speaking states, where the languages were not related to Hindi. As a result, in 1963, two years before the deadline, the Parliament passed the Official Languages Act, which allowed English to continue as an official language alongside Hindi.
The decision to retain English was met with opposition from various states and territories, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Puducherry, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Andhra Pradesh. Despite these protests, English remained an official language, reflecting the complex linguistic landscape of India and the challenges of transitioning to a single official language.
The Official Languages Act of 1963, which came into effect on January 26, 1965, marked a significant moment in India's linguistic history. It not only addressed the practical challenges of transitioning to a new official language but also acknowledged the country's diverse linguistic heritage and the rights of various linguistic communities.
Today, India recognizes 22 languages in its Eighth Schedule, including Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, and Tamil. While Hindi is the official language, the constitution grants the central government, through the President, the power to issue directives to state governments regarding the use of minority languages for official purposes. This provision ensures that the diverse linguistic needs and rights of India's population are addressed.
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There is no national language of India
India is a diverse country with a wide range of languages, and as of 2025, 22 languages have been recognised under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. However, it is important to note that there is no national language of India. The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, does not designate a national language, instead, it outlines the official languages for various purposes.
Article 343 of the Constitution states that Hindi is the official language of the Union, and it is written in the Devanagari script. This decision was made by the Constituent Assembly, which favoured declaring Hindi as the national language immediately after independence. However, there were divisions within this group regarding the script to be used and the inclusion of Urdu. Additionally, there was opposition from those who wanted to continue using English, which was one of the official languages of British India before independence.
To address these concerns, the Constitution included a compromise, allowing for a gradual transition from English to Hindi over a 15-year period. This compromise is reflected in Article 343, which designated Hindi as the official language while allowing English to continue as an additional official language for a maximum of 15 years. This provision ensured that English would remain in use until at least 1965, 15 years after the Constitution came into effect.
The Official Languages Act of 1963 further solidified the use of both Hindi and English as official languages. This Act, which came into effect on 26 January 1965, ensured the continued use of English alongside Hindi for official purposes. The Act also mandates the publication of central acts, rules, and regulations in Hindi and English in the official gazette by the President of India.
It is worth noting that the Constitution grants the central government, through the President, the authority to issue directives to state governments regarding the use of minority languages for official purposes. This provision ensures that the linguistic minorities within a state are able to use their mother tongue for official purposes and receive primary education in their native language.
In conclusion, while India recognises 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, it does not have a designated national language. The Constitution outlines the official languages, Hindi and English, for legislation, judiciary, and communication between the Central Government and State Governments. The country's diverse linguistic landscape is further enriched by the recognition and promotion of various regional languages.
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The Indian constitution grants the power to the central government to issue directives to states regarding the use of minority languages
India's linguistic diversity is immense, and the Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, has had to address this diversity in its provisions. The Constitution does not specify an official language to be used by the states for official functions, leaving each state free to adopt a language used in its territory as its official language.
The Indian Constitution grants the central government, acting through the President, the power to issue directives to state governments regarding the use of minority languages for official purposes. The President may direct a state to officially recognize a language spoken in its territory for specific purposes and regions if its speakers demand it and can demonstrate that a significant proportion of the state's population desires its use. This power is granted under Article 350-B, which provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, known as the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India (CLM). The CLM investigates matters relating to the safeguards for linguistic minorities and reports to the President.
The Constitution also requires states and local authorities to provide primary education in the mother tongue for all linguistic minorities, regardless of whether their language is official in that state. The President has the power to issue directions to ensure that these facilities are provided.
The Constitution further provides for the progressive adoption of Hindi, with the President appointing commissions to make recommendations on the increased use of Hindi, restrictions on English, and related issues. The Official Languages Act of 1963, which came into effect in 1965, provided for the continued use of English for official purposes alongside Hindi, even beyond the initial 15-year period envisioned in the Constitution.
The recognition of minority languages and the promotion of Hindi coexist in India's linguistic landscape, reflecting the country's diverse and inclusive linguistic heritage.
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The Official Languages Act, 1963, made provision for the continued use of English for official purposes
India's Constitution, which was adopted in 1950, initially outlined that Hindi would be the country's official language, with English serving as an additional official language for a maximum of 15 years. However, the Official Languages Act of 1963, which came into effect on 26 January 1965, made provisions for the continued use of English for official purposes, alongside Hindi.
The Official Languages Act, 1963, was enacted by the Parliament to address the concerns of non-Hindi-speaking regions of India, particularly the Dravidian-speaking states, which had no linguistic ties to Hindi. The Act recognised the need to continue using English for official purposes, even beyond the initial 15-year period that was stipulated in the 1950 Constitution. This decision was further reinforced by the protests from various states and territories, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Puducherry, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Andhra Pradesh, when an attempt was made to discontinue the use of English in late 1964.
The Act, as outlined in Article 343(1) of the Constitution, reaffirms that Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union. However, the Act also grants a special status to English, allowing for its continued use in official capacities. This is evident in Article 343(2), which states that English can be used for official work for a period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution, and Article 343(3), which empowers the Parliament to extend the use of English for official purposes beyond 25 January 1965.
The Official Languages Act, 1963, also outlines specific scenarios where both Hindi and English must be used. These include Resolutions, General Orders, Rules, Notifications, Administrative and other Reports, Press Communiqués, Official Papers presented to Parliament, Contracts, Agreements, Licences, Permits, Tender Notices, and Forms of Tender. Additionally, the Act acknowledges the importance of English in education, particularly in the fields of science and technology, where it serves as the preferred medium of instruction.
Furthermore, the Act grants the Central Government the authority to issue rules and guidelines for the effective use of languages in official capacities. This includes ensuring that individuals working in Union affairs, regardless of their proficiency in Hindi or English, are not placed at a disadvantage due to their lack of proficiency in both languages.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no national language of India. However, the Indian constitution, in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language.
The 22 languages recognised by the Constitution of India are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
The official languages of India are Hindi and English.
The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India lists the languages that are officially recognised by the Government of India.
Before India gained independence, the official languages of the country were English, Standard Urdu and, later, Modern Standard Hindi. English was used for purposes at the central level.
